Shuttle threading block



Oct. 16, 1951 A. VlLLANl SHUTTLE THREADING BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan'. 19, 1950 INVENTOR. ANTON/O V/LLAN/ A rroiervEy Oct. 16, 1951 A. VlLLANl 2,571,396

SHUTTLE THREADING BLOCK Filed Jan. 19, 1950 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANTON/0 V/LLAN/ A TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 16, 1951 Antonio Villani, Milford, l \tfla s., as'si gfioi to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, MassL, a. carpi;-

ration of' Maine Appnmieamnuary 19, 1950', Serial No. 139,47 9

i4 came.

This invention pertains to a threading blockfor shuttles for automatic looms, and more particularly to threading blocks adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment of the filling supply.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a threading block for a shuttle for use inautomatic looms which shall provide for thread ing the shuttle completely upon the first pick after transfer of asupply offilling to the shuttle upon actuation of the replenishing mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a very simple threading block which shall beadapted to function with all types of yarns and which shall function to thread completely at the first pick under all normal conditions of. opera tion of the loom and with virtually no tendency to unthread oncethe fillinghas become completely threaded in the side eye.

It is a further object of the invention to" devise a threading block of the type described which may be cheaply formed from east iron or other metal adapted to bemolded and which shall re-' quirea'minimum of machining and no additional parts other than the more or less conventional tension pads employed with certain types of artificial filaments.

Other objects will be evident from the follow= ing more detailed disclosure.

In that loom operationwh'ich is-most prevalent at the present time} a bobbin or carrier for a filling supply is always maintained in' a-p'ositiori to be automatically inserted in the shuttle as it is boxed at the replenishing side} and the filling on that carrier is extended to and is held at a pointoutwardly of the supply. As each new supply is inserted the carrier from which filling has just been depleted is expelledfrom the" shuttle by the new incoming supply and by mechanism well known to thoseskilled' inthis art. As that transfer is completed the shuttle is shortly thereafter picked toward the opposite side of the loom and the" thread starts to" be drawn from the filling supply therein or which was just transferred thereto, and threadsto a certain extent or partially only, on" the first'pick away from the replenishing sidez Then on the second or return pick; the thread advances still further into the threadingblock orother por' tion of theshuttleby which it iscontrolled and through which it is delivered as itis deposited in the warp shed thereby to become" completely threaded. Obviously,- certain difficultiesare experienced when twopicks are required to effect complete threading ofthefilling and" it is very di-fiicult to lay the first pick at the transfer under the same conditionsas the subsequent picks since it is almost invariably true that the tension imposed upon the partially threaded yarn is not the same as that prevailing when the yarn has become completely threaded. Again; there is some tendency for the yarn to become unthreaded before the second pick or before it has a chance to be completely threaded in which event it is frequently broken or for some other reason causes stopping of the loom or the production of imperfeet fabric, 4 A

It has for these and other reasons been deg sired to devise a threading block which. will" thread: completely at thefirst pick after transfer or after replenishmentof the filling supply of the shuttle and preferably, which will thread com-- pletely at a point very close to the start of that first pick.

In carryingthe invention intopractice a threadingblock has been devised for mountingin a wooden or other shuttle in a somewhat conventional position and by the generally accepted retaining means. The threading block may be ofcast iron, bronze or brass" and is adapted to rest in a cavity formed inthe shuttle adjacent a part cut away at the side thereof to form a side eye passage in the shuttle material from which trier-"111mg may ei'r'te'rid and by'which it is guided in grooves or slots in the wood or other material frolmfv'vhich the shuttle is made. The shuttle block has" a thread passage at its inner end, that end adjacent the filling supply, and a thread'trap at the outer, front end of that per: tiori of the block which is psitioiied" adjacent the side eye opening cut in the shuttle'riiate al; This thread passage is trere'rabiy or relatively short extent being formedin a widened true-av: ier porti'ori'of th'shiittle' 516012 and has a convergiiig thread eht'ranch slot extending fro'i'n" thetop portion of the'block downintothe'passage. A Pref= erabl'y thise'r'itranc'e slot may be inclined slightly as will hereinafter be exblaih'ed: although that is not absolutely necessary.

Between th'ethr'ead passage and the trap, the threading block isof relatively narrow transverse section and the material thereof is disposed en= tirely to one' sideof thepath which the running thread" eventually takes as it is threaded-" andas it passes through the block afterbeing complete-,- 137' threaded: The material ofthe shuttle body itself is preferably formed so as to be spaced from this thread guiding surface andto extend in substantial parallelismtherewith. The slot or vertically disposedopeningformedbetweenthe guiding surface of the block aforementioned and the cooperating parallel, spaced surface of the shuttle extends in continuation of the thread passage and its thread entrance slot, or in substantial continuation thereof.

The thread trap at the forward outer end of the block is formed within and by a forwardly projecting, rounded part of the block and, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail, has a thread side eye formed by drilling or in any other convenient manner, this side eye also being disposed in substantial continuation of the thread passage and thread guiding space between the block and shuttle material just above described. The side eye is entered by an entrance slot upwardly disposed for entering the slot from beneath. The thread having been entered in the converging entrance first moves down to the thread passage and is then guided around the outer bulging, forwardly extending, rounded portion of the trap to be positioned below the side eye so that it may pass up through the side eye entrance into the eye itself whereupon it becomes fully threaded. The outer or forward portion of the eye is rounded in such manner as to present a smooth uninterrupted surface over which the thread may be drawn so that the tension imposed thereon will not vary substantially no matter which direction the shuttle is moving. The position of the lowermost portion of the trap or, at least the part thereof in which the side eye entrance is formed, is below the adjacent edge of the shuttle block material within which the threading block is disposed so that once a thread has snapped beneath the trap and upwardly into the eye, it will be maintained at such elevation that there will be no likelihood of it falling downwardly through the side eye entrance thereby to become unthreaded.

Now having described the general characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention, certain forms thereof will be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of part of a shuttle to which a threading block in accordance with the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the thread which was completely unthreaded in Fig. 1, partially threaded or having been entered in the thread passage preparatory to being caught later within the trap.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a later point in the cycle in which the thread has become completely threaded.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but taken in front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one form of the invention as applied to weaving cotton, the threading block here being illustrated as seen from the inner end of the shuttle as the same is disposed at the side of the loom at which replenishment takes place.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same block.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the block as seen from the outer end of the shuttle.

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing a modification of the block as applied to weaving rayon, etc.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the threading block illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section, showing a modification wherein a spring pressed cap is employed for the'purpose of preventing escape of 4 the filling once it has become completely threaded.

Now referring to the figures, a shuttle generally indicated by numeral 20 has a central recess 2| within which is carried in the conventional manner a supply of filling on a bobbin or other carrier 22, that supply of filling being drawn off over the end of the carrier and being extended outwardly as a F to be held at a point somewhat removed from the tip 23 of the shuttle prior to and at the point of transfer or replenishment of the filling supply as the shuttle is disposed at the shuttle box at that particular side of the loom. A threading block generally indicated by numeral 24 and hereinafter to be described in greater detail is held within a cavity cut or otherwise formed in the shuttle body at that end of the shuttle, the block being fitted somewhat tightly in the said cavity at certain points about its periphery and being positively retained therein by a bolt 25 which passes transversely through the shuttle material and also through a registering hole in the threading block itself.

Reference is hereby made to U. S. Patent 2,272,147 to Brown in which a threading block adapted to thread completely at the first pick has been thoroughly described and claimed and in which the position of the shuttle, replenishing mechanism and other parts incidentally operable at replenishment have been completely illustrated. Attention is directed toward this particular patent for a more complete showing of the parts cooperating at transfer and similar illustration and description have therefore been omitted from this disclosure.

Now referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the threading block 24 has at its inner end, that is, the end adjacent the supply of filling carried by the shuttle, a thread passage 26 which is here shown of circular cross section, but which may be of any convenient shape and which may be formed by being cast in the block, or which may be machined in any convenient manner. A thread entrance slot 21 extends downwardly from the top of the block and preferably has converging sides thereby to facilitate and assure entrance of the filling as the same is drawn taut preparatory to the movement of the shuttle across the loom and through the shed. The part of the block through which the entrance slot and thread passage are formed comprises only a relatively small portion of the complete length of the threading block as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9, and the disposition of the slot and passage is one angularly disposed to the general longitudinal center line of the shuttle and extendingv outwardly and forwardly toward a thread trap 28 at the outer end of the block. This thread trap 28 is formed by a forwardly extending portion of the block which has an outwardly curved, bulging or rounded surface 29, and within which is formed by casting or by some convenient machine operation, a side eye 30 located somewhat below the general level of the thread passage. This side eye is also inclined in the same general direction as the thread passage (from the back towards the front and outwardly,) and has a side eye entrance 3| which is disposed in a vertical direction and which enters the side eye from beneath. The side eye of more or less circular cross section is defined at its outer and lower side by a hooked member 32 the outer part of which is a continuation of the rounded surface 29. This hooked portion is also grooved or notched at 33 and is rounded conveniently'so as ash-gea- Between the thread passage 26' and the side eye 30 or the thread trap 28, the running fillingis not confined within the threading block, but is guided by the material of the block at one side only. The surface of the block disposed between that portion 34 thereof within which the thread passage is formed and the forwardly curved part within which the side eye is to be-found is indicated by numeral 35 and curves forwardly and outwardly extending more or less in the general direction which the filling takes as it runs from the thread passage through the side eye. This angularly disposed thread guiding surface also serves in conjunction with the cooperating sur face 36 formed in the wood or other material from which the shuttle body is formed to provide a slot within which and by which the filling is guided during the threading function. These surfaces 35 and 36 are more or less parallel, but are spaced as illustrated so as to provide a reasonable space through which the filling may move after it has entered the thread passage 26 and as it is drawn taut as in Fig. 2 thereby to progress from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 and thereafter to the-completely threaded state illustrated in Fig. 3. The movement of the lay at these particular times is important since the angular relationship of the thread is varied to assist it to thread.

The level of the lower part of the thread passage 25 is also disposed at a distance above the underneath part or lowest surface of the trap at which the entrance slot' 3| starts so that the thread will not be restrained from entering the trap, yet will be held high enough during loom operation so that it has little tendency to become unthreaded by dropping down through the entrance slot 3|. In the shuttle block illustrated in Figs. 5-7 the difference in elevation is perhaps at a maximum, but in some instances may be slightly less thereby to facilitate entry of the thread quickly. Some dilference is desired because then the thread lingers slightly or resists complete threading until it has been drawn sufiiciently taut as it has been cammed around the curved outer surface 29- of the trap whereupon it snaps into the side eye 30 just about as the shuttle enters the shed.

Both the thread passage entrance slot 21 and the side eye entrance slot 3| are preferably although not necessarily disposed at a slight angle to the direction of the running filling 0110613118 shuttle has become completely threaded so that, although the angular disposal of the slots makes no noticeable difference to threading, it'does'serve very effectively to prevent release of the'thread or unthreading. Since the entrance slots con= verge in the direction of threading, the angular relationship of the slots does not prevent entry of the thread. After the thread has once entered the passage 25 or the side eye 38 the interior surfaces of which are nearly cylindrical, there is no chance for escape so long as the thread is maintained in taut condition.

Now referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a modification of thethreading block will be described; this modification being adapted to servewhen weaving rayon or other similar materials; Here the general nature and disposal of the variousparts and elementsenterin-g into the complete block are very much thesame'as-that of Figs. E I and? 6 inaddition} certain tensionpads are added, these-- being especially desirable for the material's men ti'o'neds The innermost part of the block is= slotted" vertically and. somewhat angularlyas shown in Fig: 8 rather than being apertured', to-

pre'sent a thread' passage into which leads the converging thread entrance slot both of which serve very well'when' weaving-cotton: This-vertical slot indicated by numeral 3''! is of sufficient width to accommodate front and rear tensionpads 38 and-39 which may be'of any convenient type; but preferably are formed as shown anddescribe'd U. S: Patent 2,046,287. The slot preferably inclines from front to rear and-,- of

. course; thepads a-re disposed at a similar in--- clination: The entrance to-theslot is bevelled asa't- 40- and Mso-that the'thread must be guided toa position to enter between the tensionpads' and thereafter will be led downwardly" toward the lowermost portion of the thread passage which is actually defined by amore or less horizontally disposedledge 42, Fig. 9. ledge 42 which= defines the lowermost part ofthethread passage is; as previously described relative to thefirst for-m of theinvention; positioned horizontallyabove'thelower portion of the trap, but

notvery far above that particular part of the block, for example,- a distance of fi i'to A; of an inch has been found to-serve very well.

Now referring to Fig. 10, a second modification" which maybe employed-with either form ofthe threading block is illustrated and comprises a springpressed membercooperating with the trap to prevent withdrawal or escape of the filling once thesame has entered-the side eye.- The" shuttle-body itselfisapertured or drilled out at" aposition just beneath the lower part of the trap" or the hooked portion 32' thereof when the'bloc'k has been assembled in position in the shuttle and'the-restra-ining' member is positioned in that aperture. The restraining means comprises a bushing 43 which is threaded externally to engage readily within the aperture above mentioned and-has a heador flange portion 44, this"v fiangebeihg-slott'ed at the top. The fiange limits downward movement as it bears on' a shoulder. midway of the receiving aperture or well in the shuttle-body. Thefiangeand also the lower end of the sleeve are-slotted to receive a screw-driver." Thisbushing-4'3 is interiorly apertured to receive aspring 45 within which is received a stem or plunger 46 ofa cap which is concavely formed to' seat" upwardly against the lower curved sur-'-' facebeneath the side eye30. The spring 46 may" b'e-adjusted as to'its tension by. turning the bushing' 43 in the body of theshuttle either by apply ing a screw-"driverupwardly from beneath. orbyff turning it from the top during assembly? This" adjusts the tension and pressure with which the. cap 4! bears against the lower surface of the trap.

The shuttle body is grooved as at 48 and 49, Fig. 4, and pins 50 and 51 are inserted across these grooves to provide suitable wear surfaces against which the running thread may bear to prevent its contact with the wood or other material of the shuttle and to guide it in its travel after leaving the side eye 30.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shuttle body is formed as at 36, Fig. 1, to provide a relatively narrow groove between that surface 36 and the cooperating guide surface 35 of the block within which the thread may pass, but it is not essential that the body of the shuttle be formed precisely as illustrated orthat the surface 33 be as close to the material of the shuttle threading block as shown. In fact, the block will thread quite satisfactorily without the assistance of any cooperating surface of the shuttle body itself. In actual practice the contact of the thread is almost entirely with the guide surface 35 and with the exterior curved or bulging portion 29 of the trap and of the block whereupon it passes downwardly and beneath the trap to enter the side eye through slot 3 I.

Now having described various forms of the invention in considerable detail, the operation or functioning of the device involves certain steps which take place right after transfer has been completed and as the shuttle makes its initial pick after the replenishing function. Commonly the transfer is completed at or adjacent front center, and then as the lay moves rearwardly, the shuttle is picked at about one-half the rearward travel thereof at which time the end of the filling having been drawn outwardly from the supply just transferred to the shuttle is held as illustrated in the Patent 2,272,147, above mentioned. As the shuttle is picked the thread is disposed as illustrated in Fig. 1. Then the lay continues to move rearwardly and in cooperation therewith the outer end of the thread is moved forwardly slightly since the battery revolves throughout a small angular extent at that time. The result is that the thread is caused to draw off the supply over the end of the bobbin or other carrier and enters down into the slot 21 or between the tension pads 38 and 39, as the case may be, and due to the movement or forcing of the thread downwardly as it is drawn off the end 22 of the carrier, and under the influence of the pads as well, it is moved into the passage 26 or downwardly by the pads to the passage or to level 42, Fig. 9. At the same time the thread is cammed along surface 35 and outwardly about the bulging or curved portion 29 at the front side of the trap and since it is under considerable tension, just as soon as it passes that point it has every tendency or is influenced to snap inwardly to pass the point or hooked portion 32 of the trap whereupon it enters the converging slot 3|, although it is to be understood that very little convergence of this particular slot is contemplated or is necessary. In actual practice the complete threading of the block occurs when the shuttle itself has entered the shed for about one-half the shuttle length. Thus before any thread is actually laid in the shed on the first pick, the filling is completely threaded and tension conditions have become standardized and will continue to remain the same throughout the remainder of that initial pick and for each pick following.

In the event the thread restraining device of Fig. is employed, it is evident that the thread will snap beneath the point or hooked portion 32 of the trap and between that element and the top concave surface of the cap 41. The spring 46 is compressed slightly at that time and it is to be understood that very little tension in the spring is necessary. Once the thread has been completely threaded in that mechanism, it may even drop out of or down to the bottom of slot 3| until it rests upon the top surface or edge portions of the cap 41, but upon again being tensioned that thread will merely be lifted upwardly into side eye 30. It cannot actually become disengaged from the side eye, although it is to be understood that that may occur only at the most infrequent intervals, if at all, even Without employing the material at the side of the shuttle body and adjacent the trap and side eye is disposed slightly higher than the lowermost portion of the slot 3|. That expedient in and of itself is not new, but is old and well known and described in U. S. Patent 835,230.

As shown in Figs. 1-3 the angular disposal of the thread entrance slot 21 is such that, once the thread has entered passage 26, it is virtually impossible for it to snap upwardly or in any other manner become disengaged therefrom. The same applies at the side eye entrance slot 3| and it is not necessary to provide slots of any great width since the threading function is facilitated due to the convergence of the slot as it enters the passage or side eye as the case may be, but no similar convergence is available to permit the thread to become disengaged.

In operation the thread is thus initially entered into the thread passage 26 or between the tension pads 38 and 39 and then follows downwardly and forwardly being cammed along the surfaces 35 and 29 to become positioned beneath the trap and to enter the slot 3| whereupon it becomes completely threaded as it enters side eye 39. That is a very simple construction and the actual threading function is influenced by a minimum of parts or surfaces practically all of which are elements of the block itself and thus need not be especially formed and assembled withinthe block nor is it necessary that such parts be maintained in perfect alignment and adjustment as has been the case with certain other shuttle threading blocks intended to thread at the first pick. It is also a special feature of the block that it functions to control threading very quickly during the first pick. The filling as it threads is maintained externally of or to the front of the entire block member itself except as it is restrained by the thread passage confined to the innermost portion of the block only.

Throughout the specification and claims reference has frequently been made to certain directions of movements or directions in which certain elements are disposed. Inwardly and outwardly refer respectively to the directions tending toward the inner portion or central portion of the loom and toward the end thereof at which transfer takes place and at which the replenishing mechanism is disposed. The terms forwardly and rearwardly refer to the directions toward the front or back of the loom, respectively.

The block functions equally well with regular or reverse winds, and the type of and material from which the thread is made may vary widely without sacrificing the efliciency with which the device is employed.

While the preferred construction contemplates use of inclined tension pads, they may be vertically disposed, but preferably are to be located as close as is reasonably practicable t the front of the block or shuttle.

While one embodiment and certain modifications of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a

threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, a thread trap at 'the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly disposed thread guiding surface between said passageand trap, a side eye at the lower portion of said trap and an upward-1y directed entrance slot for said eye. V

2. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which com- ;prises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, a thread trap at the opposite end thereof, and an angularly disposed, downwardly extending thread guiding surface between said passage and trap, said trap comprising a forwardly directed curved portion into which the guiding surface is blended, a side eye at the lower portion thereof and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye.

3. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, an entrance slot leading downwardly to said thread passage, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly disposed thread guiding surface between said passage and trap, a side eye in said trap, said side eye being directed angularly toward the outer end of said block and having an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye.

4. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, a downwardly directed converging entrance slot for said passage, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly directed curved guiding surface between said passage and trap, the said guiding surface being formed to blend into the outer forward portion of said trap thereby to serve in conjunction with adjoining portions of said shuttle with which the block is used, for guiding the thread beneath the said trap, a side eye in said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot at the lowermost portion of the trap communicating with the said side eye for permitting the thread to enter that eye.

5. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a generally cylindrical and substantially horizontally disposed thread passage at the inner end of the block, an entrance slot extending downwardly from the top of the block and communicating with said passage, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly disposed thread guiding surface extending between said passage and trap and comprising a forwardly directed curved portion and in extension thereof a portion reversed in direction to conform to the lower surface of the trap, a side eye at the lower portion of said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye.

6. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a

threading block adapted to thread completely on the'fi'rst pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, tension pads in said thread passage between which the thread is received preparatory to threading the shuttle at the first pick, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly disposed thread guiding surface between said passage and trap, a side eye at the lower portion of said trap and an upwardly directed entrane slot for said eye.

7. For use in a shuttle of the type 'in'which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which coinprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, said thread passage havdisposed thread guiding surface between said passage and trap, a side eye at the lower portion of said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot for said eye.

8. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, downwardly and rearwardly directed tension pads in said passage, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and said trap comprising a forwardly directed curved portion into which the guiding surface is blended, said curved portion reversing its direction and extending rearwardly of the -block adjacent the lower portion of the trap, a

side eye at the lower portion of the trap, and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said side eye.

9. In combination, a shuttle and threading block for threading completely on the first pick {after transfer, said shuttle having a filling carrier receiving recess and a threading block retaining cavity, said threading block comprising means defining a thread passage at the inner end thereof adjacent the said recess, a thread trap [at the outer, forward end of the block, and an angularly disposed, forwardly and downwardly directed thread guiding surface between the passage and trap, a side eye in said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye, the shuttle block receiving cavity further having a forwardly and downwardly inclined thread guiding surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the guiding surface of the block and serving in combination therewith to lead the thread downwardly beneath the trap and into the side eye therein.

10. In combination, a shuttle and threading block for threading completely on the first pick after transfer, said shuttle having a filling carrier receiving recess and a threading block retaining cavity, said threading block comprising means defining a thread passage at the inner end thereof adjacent the said recess, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block, and an angularly disposed, forwardly and downwardly directed thread guiding surface between the passage and trap and merging into the forward portion thereof to continue rearwardly beneath the trap, a side eye in said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye, the shuttle block receiving cavity further being so formed as to have a forwardly and downwardly inclined thread guiding surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the guiding surface of the block and serving in combination therewith to lead the thread downwardly beneath the trap and into the eye, the front edge of said cavity being slightly higher than the lowermost portion of the trap to prevent release of the thread from the side eye.

11. In combination, a shuttle and threading block for threading completely on the first pick after transfer, said shuttle having a filling carrier receiving recess and a threading block retaining cavity, said threading block comprising means defining a thread passage at the inner end thereof adjacent the said recess, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block, and an angularly disposed, forwardly and downwardly directed thread guiding surface between the passage and trap, a side eye in said trap and an upwardly directed entrance slot leading into said eye, the shuttle block receiving cavity having a forwardly and downwardly inclined thread guiding surface spaced from and parallel to the guiding surface of the block, a side eye entrance slot closing cap restrained to move upwardly toward said trap and resilient means to retain said cap in contact with the lower part of said trap, but away from the trap slightly upon passage of the thread into the slot and eye.

12. For use in a shuttle of the type in which a filling supply is automatically replenished, a threading block adapted to thread completely on the first pick after replenishment which comprises means defining a thread passage at the inner end of the block, an entrance slot leading downwardly to said thread passage, a thread trap at the outer, forward end of the block and an angularly disposed thread guiding surface between said passage and trap located entirely at the forward side of the block and therefore defining the front bounding surface thereof, a side eye in said trap, said side eye being directed angularly toward the outer end of said block and having an upwardly directed entrance slot.

13. A shuttle threading block as defined in claim 12 wherein the lowermost portion of the thread passage is in substantial alignment with the side eye, but disposed at a slightly higher level as compared to the lowermost portion of the side eye.

14. A shuttle threading block as defined in claim 12 wherein the entrance slots leading to the thread passage and to the side eye are inclined at a slight angle to the direction of travel of the thread through the block after it has become fully threaded.

ANTONIO VILLANI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filecof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,405,452 Snow Feb. 7, 1922 1,720,410 Davis July 9, 1929 2,059,756 Spencer Nov. 3, 1936 2,272,147 Brown Feb. 3, 1942 2,341,848 Snow Feb. 15, 1944 2,385,756 Brown Sept. 25, 1945 

